Midway, KY – The #7 Patriots Wrestling team traveled for a Mid-South Conference tri-dual against Midway (RV) and Rio Grande (RV). UC finished 16-4 overall, while ending at 35-10 over Rio Grande and 40-6 against Midway.

Assistant Coach Diorian Coleman reflected on the two duals, "...We started off slow against Rio Grande, but I definitely made sure we would not be that way against Midway. I lit a fire in the team going into the second dual and it definitely showed. The guys went out there and wrestled with a purpose. I am proud of them.." 

#7 Cumberlands Defeats Rio Grande (RV), 35-10
The Patriots held the lead for the entirety of the dual notching their first points with a technical fall, 15-0 at 0:00, by #12 Adonis Boyd over Layton Vennon (Rio Grande). The 125 wrestler took down his opponent in just the first period, with a 3-point takedown, followed by two 2-point nearfalls and two 4-point nearfalls. In the 133-weight, Chandlar Akins secured six points for the Pats, recording a fall at 0:57 against Colin Greenwood (Rio Grande) after two 3-point takedowns in the first period. Eli Peyton took the mat in the 141-bout, with a 16-0 technical fall at the 2:42 mark over Phillip Balis, in the first period. He marked a 3-point takedown, a 2-point nearfall, two 4-point nearfalls, and a 3-point nearfall. The Patriots scored again when #18 Weston Melvin took down Mitchell Freeman (Rio Grande) with escape resulting in a 1-0 decision in the 157-weight class. #13 O'Brian Black secured an 11-2 major decision against Brennen Greene at 165. Black totaled three 3-point takedowns, a bottom escape, and riding time in the 165-bout. Charlie Friedenreich (174-lbs) and Thomas Ketchen-Carter (184-lbs) both collected six points in forfeit wins in their respective weight classes.

#7 Cumberlands Stomps Midway (RV), 40-6
UC took Midway by storm, taking all matches but one. #12 Boyd tallied a fall, in the 125-weight class, at 0:46 with a 3-point takedown against Zach Lewis (Midway). Akins followed with a win over Tyrique Simms (Midway) in the 133-bout. He dominated with a 3-point takedown, 3-point nearfall, two 4-point nearfalls, and a 2-point nearfall in the first period for a 16-0 technical fall at 2:14. 141 wrestler Peyton notched a fall at 4:22 against Nolan Jones (Midway), with two 3-point takedowns. Marc Le Gaspe recorded two 3-point takedowns and riding time for a 7-2 decision over Aidan Karpinski (Midway). #18 Melvin collected his second decision, 10-6, of the night against Chris Begley (Midway) with two 3-point takedowns and three escapes for the 157-bout. 165 wrestler, #13 Black notched three 3-point takedowns and a 4-point takedown for a 16-1 technical fall at 3:17 against Michael Colligan (Midway). In a 17-3 major decision, Friedenreich beat Sebastian Hutchinson (Midway) with four 3-point takedowns and two escapes at 174. #14 Ketchen-Carter followed, tallying three 3-point takedowns and two 4-point nearfalls in a 17-1 technical fall at 3:55 over Ernst Lavaud (Midway). Rounding out the night, Wylie Dunn earned a win against Aaron Garcia (Midway), recording a 4-point nearfall, a 3-point takedown, and two escapes in a 9-3 decision.

When asked about the upcoming matchup against #4 Campbellsville, Coleman stated, "... There is more work to accomplish and winning those two duals will not define us, how we finish the season does. The energy for the dual on Friday will be high and preparing will be just like any other dual."

The #7 Pats look to face #4 Campbellsville in a senior night dual, hosted in the UC Volleyball Gym in Williamsburg, Ky. The dual will begin at 7 p.m. on Friday January 26^th.

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